As an escape artist determined to out-Houdini Houdini, "Alexanderia the Great'' isn't like most women.

She can free herself from padlocked chains while weighted down at the bottom of a pool. When invited to a recent high school graduation party, she brought her straitjacket to wear for photos with the guest of honor.

But as the Medway mom of three and a new grandmother, Donna Purnell is exactly like most women.

"What scares her most isn't the chains and shackles. It's going out in a bathing suit,'' said her husband and coach, Bill Purnell.

"There aren't very many women who want to stand out in front of 12 million people'' in a swimsuit, she said, yet that's roughly how many viewers saw her audition on the NBC show "America's Got Talent'' last month when she won praise from judges Howie Mandel, Howard Stern, Heidi Klum and Mel B, who sent her to the next phase of competition in Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas episodes will air this week, Tuesday and Wednesday, July 16 and 17. Contestants who wow the judges there move to the live shows in New York City that start July 23, when viewers start calling the shots on who stays and who goes.

The Purnells considered auditioning for the show last season, but were concerned radio shock-jock Stern "might be critical'' of Alexanderia because "she's not a size 2,'' said Bill Purnell.

"But he's been wonderful,'' Donna said of the outspoken judge.

They were also happy to hear the accolades from Mandel, who mused that the Medway mom must be Houdini's reincarnation.

Houdini's escapes were most often done behind a curtain, but "we don't think there's any allure to watching curtains,'' said Bill.

"People don't believe it unless they see it,'' said Donna, which is why her escapes are done in full view of the audience.

"I think Harry would be pleased,'' her husband said.

Escapology has long been a shared interest for the Purnells.

"It's what we've been doing since we were kids,'' said Bill.

Back when he was a teen courting Dedham native Donna, he told her to "tie my hands up'' and he jumped into a pool to show her how quickly he could get out. She decided she wanted to give it a shot and beat his time quite handily, he recalled. "She has an innate ability to get out of things.''

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But the idea of a professional escape act had to be put on the back burner for a few decades.

After college, they married and she worked as a teacher before starting their family. When the children were young, she opened a home daycare, while he worked for many years in an administrative position at a Boston-area college.

When the economy soured and they needed to find different jobs, Bill suggested they "go back to what you're good at,'' Donna said.

A 2009 YouTube video of her escape act led to local gigs, national performances at venues such as the International Brotherhood of Magicians Convention, and media attention, including appearances on the "Today'' show and Fox News.

A lot goes into being Alexanderia the Great.

Her preparation includes meditation, weight training and practice, practice, practice. She has also had professional training in free-diving, underwater diving without the use of breathing apparatus, and has received advice from others in the unique field of escape artistry.

A lot goes into making her other identity a success as well.

"I feel like Clark Kent'' at times, said Purnell, whose day job is managing the Bellingham Work Out World, along with running the household that includes son Michael, 15, daughters Kristin, 19, and Nicole, 22, and Nicole's 8-month-old son.

"My family comes first,'' even if it means saying no to a TV show.

"My son plays hockey. I was always the team mom.'' So when a Fox producer called to schedule an appearance several years ago, Donna turned it down because "Michael had a hockey tournament'' that day. Luckily, the producer was willing to reschedule.

As for the exposure on "America's Got Talent,'' "we're hoping people see this in a lot of different contexts,'' Bill said.

It's about getting out of boxes both literally and figuratively, they said.

People who think, "I can't start over in life, that's wrong,'' said Donna, who's 51. "Everyone has a talent in life. Show it.''

Even though her mother and daughters sometimes watch her act with their hands over their eyes and know "when they hear the applause, they can relax,'' Alexanderia the Great isn't worried about not being able to get out safely.

After all, "I have to go home to make dinner,'' she said.

And as she strives to out-Houdini Houdini for TV viewers this week, she has already far surpassed him in the art of juggling.

Houdini didn't have working mom responsibilities to handle while adding new twists to getting out of a straitjacket and chains.

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Julia Spitz can be reached at 508-626-3968 or jspitz@wickedlocal.com. You can also read the Spitz Bits blog at www.metrowestdailynews.com/blogs/spitzbits and follow tweets at twitter.com/SpitzJ_MW.